Fit-again Collingwood boosts Durham

Durham have named Paul Collingwood in their squad for the crucial Clydesdale Bank 40 Group B clash with Hampshire.

The 36-year-old all-rounder has completed his rehabilitation from a broken hand sustained last month and will hope to feature at the Ageas Bowl ahead of taking over the captaincy in next week’s vital LV= County Championship Division One match at Sussex.

The Dynamos are set to hand Johann Myburgh a 40-over debut against his former club after a number of impressive performances in the Friends Life t20 saw him awarded a contract at the Emirates Durham ICG until the end of the season.

All-rounder Paul Collingwood has been named in Durham's squad for the CB40 game against Hampshire after recovering from a broken hand

Mark Wood makes the cut after fellow seamer Liam Plunkett was ruled out with an Achilles problem.

The second-placed hosts are currently three points ahead of Durham having played a game more, with Surrey hoping to stretch their lead at the top as they play Nottinghamshire at Guildford.

Surrey, led by Gareth Batty, have rested Chris Tremlett while Notts have included Darren Pattinson, Jake Ball, Steven Mullaney and Graeme White in their party, with Andre Adams and Ben Phillips making way.

Bottom-of-the-table Somerset go in search of their first win of the campaign against Scotland at Taunton.

Somerset were hopeful Albie Morkel, originally signed for the FLt20, would be able to feature in the 40-over format, only to see the all-rounder called up to South Africa’s squad for the Investec Test series against England as cover for the injured Marchant de Lange.

The Saltires are without captain Gordon Drummond due to work commitments, leaving Preston Mommsen with the task of leading the side.

Essex, with just one triumph in five outings, have England batsman Ravi Bopara and Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh at their disposal at Cheltenham as they look to reignite their disappointing Group A campaign against third-placed Gloucestershire, who are boosted by the availability of seamer James Fuller and all-rounder Jack Taylor.

Middlesex, boasting the services of England batsman Eoin Morgan, will look to close the gap on runaway leaders Netherlands as they welcome Leicestershire to Uxbridge.

The visitors remain bottom of the group despite claiming their first win in six games against the Dutch on Wednesday.

Second-bottom Derbyshire, likely to hand the gloves to new loan signing Richard Johnson due to the absence of injured wicketkeeper Tom Poynton, were denied the chance of beating winless Northamptonshire by the wet weather yesterday, but will attempt to move above the Unicorns in Group C when they square off at Chesterfield.